When asked about the future of MMA on the network, Dinkins said, “This is a tremendous opportunity for us to put our stamp on a new and growing sport. We plan to be innovative while maintaining the same high quality that viewers have come to expect from our boxing telecasts.”

Ultimate Fighting Championship rising star Terry Martin was falsely arrested as he was on his way into a police station to report police harassment, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Martin, 26, is suing Mayor Daley and Chicago Police officials and officers for misconduct, alleging that corruption within the Chicago Police Department led to Martin being arrested and prosecuted. Martin was stopped by police Oct. 22, 2005, for alleged minor traffic offenses while driving with his girlfriend, a 911 operator. He claims the officers used racial slurs during the encounter and other disrespectful comments. The next evening, according to the suit, Martin went to the police station to report the incident and was spotted by the same two officers.

‘‘The police said Terry drove past the station, and when the officers turned on their sirens, he did a U-turn and fled,’’ Martin’s attorney, Blake Horowitz, said. ‘‘They said he got up to a half-mile away before they brought him back and arrested him for fleeing and eluding. During the trial, another officer said he saw Terry pull up to the station calmly and they arrested him. He would have been able to see if there was a chase.’‘

MMA on Tap has learned that UFC veteran Drew McFedries will likely be out 6 to 8 months after suffering from a severe staph infection.

Last week it was reported that Spencer Fisher, Tim Sylvia, and Drew McFedries were all suffering from staph infections. Fisher pulled out of his fight with Din Thomas at UFC Fight Night 11 and Pat Miletich told the fighters infected not to return to the gym for at least 3 weeks.

Drew McFedries got hit the worst, suffering from an infection which grew to the size of a football on the back of his leg. The infection required surgery and McFedries had a good amount of skin removed from the back his leg which will now require grafts.

UFC lightweight contender Spencer “King” Fisher (20-3) has confirmed that a staph infection in his knee has forced him to withdraw from his fight with Din Thomas at UFC Fight Night 11.

Lightweight contender Spencer Fisher confirmed today that a staph infection in his knee has forced him to withdraw from his scheduled main event showdown with the American Top Team’s Din Thomas at UFC Fight Night Sept. 19 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Miletich Fighting Systems standout said his knee had swollen to “the size of a softball.”

According to The Fight Network, Fisher’s teammates Tim Sylvia and Drew McFedries have also been infected and Pat Miletich told them not to return to the gym for at least three weeks.

InsideFighting is reporting that Kenny Florian just returned from Afghanistan and confirmed that he signed to contract to face Thomas in the main event.

“Yeah, I am. I just signed a contract today. We got word that he [Spencer Fisher] may be out with staph. That’s a fight I want. I think Din is one of best fighters in the world. He’s got a great name and has been one of the guys I’ve been looking up to. To be the best you’ve got to beat the best and that’s what Din is” said Florian.

- Be sure to check back later today when we post a brand new Rock the Vote. An updated MMA on Tap Top 10 is also possible.

- Tonight’s episode of BodogFight: Paradise Lost will feature a bout between Tara LaRosa and Shayna Bazsler at 135 lbs.

- UFC Fight Night 11 will air on September 20th and will precede the debut of The Ultimate Fighter 6. The event will take place at the The Palms in Las Vegas. Mike Swick vs Chris Leben and Din Thomas vs Spencer Fisher are two of the rumored bouts for the event.

Today MMA trainer extraordinaire, Sean Tompkins, appeared on The Fight Network radio to explain the advice he gave to Sam Stout at the beginning of the third round during his main-event bout with Spencer Fisher at UFC Fight Night 10. While answering the question Tompkins took the time to provide his thoughts on UFC color commentator Joe Rogan.

“No, absolutely it’s a motivational thing that as a trainer you doing things like that where your fighter is getting power shots to his chin. You don’t want him to fall back into a single punch or single kick series where he is going to get knocked out. What I wanted him to do was to continue with confidence that he was winning the exchanges therefor he would continue to throw punches in four or six hand combos and at any time you throw hands in fours or sixes you’ve got a chance at knocking the person out. I mean contrary to the coaching expertize of Joe Rogan, who I think is one of the biggest douchebags in the sport, I’m very confident in what I do and how I do it. I think I don’t really have to prove it to anybody, that is completely the reason why I did it.”

For those of you unaware when Stout came to his corner at the end of the second round, Sean Tompkins said to him, “Don’t get caught in a war, lead hook-cross, don’t get emotional with him. We are winning every exchange.” Rogan immediately responded saying, “That’s interesting, Sean Tompkins says “we’re winning every exchange”, I completely disagree. Obviously he is probably trying to pump up and give him confidence but it might be a good thing to say.”

“I’m sure he is just trying to pump up Sam Stout but he needs to put some urgency into his game.”

Later on in the third round, Mike Goldberg stated that Sam Stout needed to go into desperation mode and Rogan responded by saying, “He should have already have been there. At the beginning of this round he should have been there. That’s the only thing I disagree with about Tompkins coaching him in his corner.”

UFC lightweight contender, Spencer “The King” Fisher, took time to call out fellow UFC veteran Joe Lauzon last night during his post-fight interview with UFC.com.

“I guess Joe Lauzon. He wants me and it gives me a chance to kill two birds with one stone. He beat my teammate and I beat his brother so it makes for a good storyline and I look to fight him.”

For those of you unaware, Joe Lauzon TKO’d Fisher’s good friend and training partner Jens Pulver at UFC 63: Penn vs. Hughes. Fisher then decided to return the favor when he TKO’d Joe Lauzon’s younger brother Dan at UFC 64: Unstoppable. Since then both fighters have been vocal about stepping into the octagon and settling the score.

Casey “The Underdog” Olson announces the signing of a three-fight card with the Palace Fighting Championships (PFC). These mixed martial arts bouts are slated for July 19, Oct. 18 and Dec. 6 at the Tachi Palace in Lemoore, Calif. The first PFC bout, on July 19, pits Olson against Brandon Jinnes (2-5) of Stockton, Calif.

“It’s been a long road getting back on track with my career after dealing with all the medical issues,” says Olson. “After comin’ off my first loss, I went back to the drawing board. I promise, come July 19th, that I’m bringin’ a war!”

In the past two years, Casey “The Underdog” Olson, a former Fresno State/Fresno City/Clovis High grappler has amassed a 5-1 professional record in the cage.